County ready for Tox Away Day Saturday

Members of the Greencastle Civic League and West Central Solid Waste District are again teaming up this year for the county's annual Tox Away Day and Clean-Sweep set to kick off this Saturday at the Putnam County Fairgrounds in Greencastle.

A variety of items, ranging from aluminum cans and newspapers to old tires and refrigerators, will be accepted at the event which will run from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

For free, residents can dispose of toxic items including paints, stains and varnishes, fertilizers, cleaners, pool chemicals, oil and oil filters, automotive batteries, acids, computer monitors, CPUs and keyboards.

Additionally, residents can dispose of tires and appliances at reduced disposal fees. This includes CFC and non-CFC appliances, car, truck, semi and tractor tires.

Specifically, residents are encouraged to bring oil-based paint, stains and varnishes, paint thinner and remover, fertilizers and pesticides, adhesives and sealers, household cleaners, pool chemicals, elemental mercury, other mercury items such as thermometers and thermostats, oil filters and anti-freeze, fluorescent light bulbs and ballasts, automotive batteries, acids and bases, old fuels, computer monitors and camping stove propane tanks.

In addition to the free items that will be collected, West Central will charge a small fee for many types of tires, including car, truck and farm tires, and household appliances.

CFC appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers and air conditioners, will be accepted for a $10 per-item fee. Non-CFC appliances, such as stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters, microwaves, dishwashers and water softeners, will be accepted for a $5 per item fee.

Residents may also bring up to six car tires at no charge with a $2 fee applied for each additional tire, up to 12.

Truck tires will be accepted with the first two at no charge and $5.50 for each additional tire, up to a maximum of four.

Farm tires will also be accepted with the first two at no charge and $15 per additional tire, up to a maximum of four.

Residents who plan on bringing items to Tox Away Day and Clean-Sweep need to remember there are several items that will not be accepted. Those items include asbestos, explosives, ammunition or firearms, radioactive materials, lab chemicals, medical or infectious waste, grill propane tanks, used motor oil or tires on rims.

Also during the event, the Greencastle Civic League will be collecting bulky trash, including sofas, chairs, mattresses, TV's, grills (no tanks) and vacuum cleaners.

Residents wanting to drop off a pick-up truck full of trash may do so for a fee based on truck size.

No fee will be applied for persons wanting to bring aluminum cans, plastics, clear, brown and green glass, cardboard, newspapers and junk mail.

Tox-Away and Clean Sweep Days takes place in Putnam County just one time a year. However, future dates in surrounding areas include June 10 at Martinsville High School in Morgan County and Sept. 30 at the Parke County Fairgrounds in Rockville. These events are open to anyone living in the West Central Solid Waste District, which includes the counties of Putnam, Montgomery, Morgan and Parke.

The West Central Solid Waste District also operates rural recycling centers in Roachdale and Cloverdale and the Yardwaste Recyc-ling Center in Greencastle.

For questions, call or stop by the West Central office in the Putnam County Courthouse Annex, 209 W. Liberty St.